GROWTH COMPONENTS AND FORAGE YIELD OF WYNN CASSIA (Chamaecrista rotundifolia Cv. Wynn) AS INFLUENCED BY VARYING LEVELS OF IRRIGATION VOLUME, FREQUENCY AND NATRON (KANWA) IN THE NIGERIAN SAVANNA

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying levels of irrigation volume, irrigation frequency and Natron ( Kanwa ) on growth components and forage yield of Chamaecrista rotundifolia. The experiment was laid out in a split plot with 3×2×2 factorial arrangement, with three replications. Results indicated that stand count and growth components were affected (P 50L>100L) in all parameters measured across all growth stages. There were 55% and 56% increase (P 0.05) between the treatments with Natron ( Kanwa ). All interactions were not significant (P>0.05), except the level of Kanwa and age of harvest of the forage (K×A) which was significant (P<0.05) on dry matter yield and number of leaves at the harvesting period. It was hence, concluded that all the treatments are paramount to the normal growth and forage yield of C. rotundifolia . However, farmers should irrigate C. rotundifolia using the minimum irrigation volume (25L) in combination with 40kg/ha of Natron ( Kanwa ) for better forage yield provided the irrigation interval does not exceed 6 days in the northern guinea savannah of Nigeria.